Other Pagan Traditions

•  An introduction to Contemporary Druidry and Asatru

Druidry

•  Ancient Pre-Christian Druidic practice (Paleo-pagan Druidism)

•  The Druid Revival (18th C.) (Meso-pagan Druidry) –  John Toland, An Druidh Uileach

Braithreachas (A.D.U.B.) 1717 –  Henry Hurle, Ancient Order of

Druids (A.O.D.) 1781 –  Iolo Morganwg, Gorsedd, 1792

•  Reformed Druids of North America (1963) - David Fisher

Historical precursors

•  Reformed Druids of North America (1963) - David Fisher

•  Carleton College •  Humorous Protest •  Book of the Law •  Nature is Good! •  Beal/Mother Earth •  Isaac Bonewits •  Today - 40 RDNA groves,

2500- 4000 members

Myth of Druidism

•  Celtic spirituality = nature based, druids as priesthood, magicians

•  Christianity meets druidry peacefully (St. Patrick)

•  William Stukely’s 18th century thesis: celts were Jewish

•  Synod of Whitby (644) destroys Celtic Christianity

Myth of Druidism

•  Joseph of Arimathea –  Jesus’s uncle, travelled Europe as

merchant, took Jesus with him –  Went to England, met Druids –  Returned after Jesus’ death, taught

Druids truths of Christianity –  …so Druids are already Christian by

the time St. Patrick etc. arrive •  Druids help Joseph of Arimathea

build Glastonbury Cathedral •  Built on “ley lines” •  Built according to druid principles

of proportion.

Myth of Druidism

•  King Arthur –  Holy grail - cup of

Ceridwen, symbol of the goddess

–  Lady of the Lake - celtic goddess

–  Merlin - druid - magic, mysticism, wisdom,education

–  So, one can be both Druid and Christian

Worldview

•  Animistic (nature is alive, animals, plants have souls)

•  Pantheistic (world itself is divine)

•  Panentheistic (nature is imbued with divine beings - gods of nature)

•  Nature based •  Cyclical •  Rational •  Magical Powers

Ethics

Grant, O God/ess, thy protection And in protection, strength And in Strength, understanding And in understanding, knowledge And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it And in that love, the love of all existences, And in the love of all existences, the love of god/dess God/dess and all goodness.

•  Triads •  “The People should

worship the gods, do no evil, and exercise courage”

•  Universal Druid Prayer •  Honor, Loyalty, Justice,

Courage, Community, Hospitality, Gentleness, Wisdom, Eloquence

Theology

•  Polytheistic •  Tuatha de Danaan

–  Bel (sunlight, rebirth, new beginnings - Beltaine)

–  Brigid (fires, healing, fertility - Imbolc)

–  The Dagda (the Good God, patron of Druids, social justice)

–  Dana/Danu – 1st goddess, mother of all the others, Earth

–  Donn (God of the Dead) –  Lugh (arts & crafts, society,

Lughnasadh) –  The Morrigan (death, war,

battles)

Organization

•  Groves •  Bards (creativity, imagination) •  Ovates (mysticism, magic,

theology, ritual) •  Druids (scholarship, magic,

knowledge) –  (or, First, second, third circle

druids)

Organization - Varieties Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD)

- Ross Nichols (1964),

•  ArnDraiocht Fein (ADF) –  Isaac Bonewits (1983) –  “Our Own Druidism” –  Public Rituals required –  Indo-European emphasis

•  Henge of Keltria –  1986 –  Mistletoe Rite (healing) - 6th night of the moon –  Vervain Rite (magic)

•  Celtic Reconstructionist Pagans

Rituals

•  Fire, Well, Tree •  Ancestors,

Nature spirits, Shining Ones

•  The Wheel of the Year